(Rated this album with 10 out of 10) Reviewed by
doomiteash
from New Mexico, USA
"Battle Hymns" was the second Manowar CD I've bought, the first being "The Triumph of Steel." I knew enough that this was their first effort as a band, and was anxious to hear how they started it all. I actually read most of the liner notes before I played the CD for the first time, and I was very impressed, ready for a great album. What I heard when I DID play the CD was everything I expected: Old-school heavy metal, with the trademark Manowar sound already evident from the first notes of "Death Tone" (after the sound of those Harleys taching up, of course!) Highlights are many: The aforementioned "Death Tone," "Metal Daze" (The first of MANY Manowar anthems!), "Shell Shock," "Dark Avenger" (Eric's signature vocals and Orson Welles' haunting narration make for a DEADLY combination!), and "Battle Hymn" (In a word, AWESOME!!) It only took one or two listens through the CD until I put it on the list of my all-time favorite CDs. The only gripe I could possibly have is that it is a little on the short side. But I'll willingly overlook that and say HAIL MANOWAR!!
